Scarlett Johansson Dumped Sean Penn Because He Told Her to Go Back to School

Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson dated for a few months and then broke up, though reports have it they’re still good friends. A new report suggests it wasn’t the age difference that ended the romance, but rather Penn’s controlling ways and belief that Scarlett needed more education.

At the time word of the split got out in the media, it was widely believed it was the age difference that made it impossible for the two to stay together.

Some reports even said that Penn had called it off with Scarlett because she’d gotten too clingy and he just wanted to have some fun, whereas she was already talking family and kids.

The latest print edition of The National Enquirer (story via here) has another explanation for the split: Sean considered Scarlett needed more education on topics like politics, so he suggested she went back to school to get it.

Furthermore, Sean tried to pressure his younger partner to see things his way, and it eventually became too much for her to bear, the tab claims.

“Heavy-handed Sean Penn wrecked his relationship with Scarlett Johansson when he went overboard with his controlling ways – telling her she should go back to school,” says the Enquirer.

Scarlett had apparently admitted to friends that she was feeling a bit uneasy about not being able to match Penn’s knowledge on a series of topics, which is what prompted him to tell her she should go to college.

“It was the last straw when Sean disparaged her lack of education about politics and urged her to go to school. Scarlett loves him, but she had to end the romance because she felt she had no breathing room,” a spy says for the tab.

“Sean suggested Scarlett take a political science course. She’s a free spirit and just became fed up with him trying to take over every aspect of her life — from career choices and work habits to people she associated with,” the insider reveals.

The last weeks of their romance were also marred by Penn’s jealousy, who suddenly started to scowl at anyone approaching his gorgeous girlfriend, the report argues.

In the end, Scarlett got sick of it all and ended it with Sean – because she “wanted a mentor, not a father,” says the tab.